Fuse-box.



R. RATC-LIFFE.

FUSE BOX. APPLICATION man Aue. 14. 191s.

1,224,118u l PatentedApr. 24,1917.l

.formed of sheet steel.

UNITED STATES PATENT ernten.

ROSCOE BATCLIFFE, 0F BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE TRUMBULL ELECTRIC MANUFACTURNG COMPANY, VDF PLAINVLLE, CONNECTICUT, A COR- Application' mea August 14, 1916.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, Roscoe RA'rcLrrrn, a citizen of the United States of America., residing at New Britain, Hartford county, Connecticut, have invented anew and useful Fuse-Box, of which the following is a specification.I l

My invention relates to fuse boxes, and the object is to provide certain new and useful featuresof construction for 'the protection of the circuit and the fuses, and also to guard or protect the interior of the box when the fuses are not in place. IThe above and other objects and advantages will be clear upon a reading of the following description, and an examination of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of the box when i the fuses are in place.

Fig. 2 is a view of the underside pf the same, and partly in section on the line fZ--2,V`

Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the box partly open and partly broken away.

I have shown and will describe only one preferred form of my invention.

1 represents the box portion usually 2 represents the cover portion also usually iormed of-sheet steel. The cover is hinged to the box at 3-34The box cover 2 is provided with a suitable opening or openings, two being shown in the drawings at 4 4. These openings correspond closely in size to the fuse plugs 5-5. 6 represents the base bloc-lr of any suitable form or pattern which may beprovided with any suitable electric terminal means to which the circuit wires, not shown, may be connecte-d, so that when the fuses are in place, the circuits will be completed. 7 is a slide mounted on the cover 2 and being guided by suitable pin and slot connections therewith.' In this instance, the pins are 'carried by the cover and are indicated at .registering with the slot 10 when the slide is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The other slot in the siide is arranged to register with the slot '1 0 when the slide is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1g.V It thus Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 24, 1917.

Serial No. 114,700.

appears that by this arrangement when the cover is closed the projection 9 will pass not only through the cover slot 10, but also through one of the slide slots, whereby the slide is held against movement when the box is closed. A suitable padlock or seal may be employed to lock the box closed, a padlock being indicated at 11.

YWhen the fuses are in place, it is desirable that the same should be exposed for observation and easy access. To that end the slide 7 should be locked in the position shown in Fig. l, in solid lines. Should the fuses be removed, for example, by the company furnishing the curr-ent, as inthe event of a discontinuance of service, the company representative may move the slide 7 to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. l, where- 1n said slide will stand over the openings so as to prevent anyone from stealing current by inserting fuses so as to close the circuit, or by tapping into the supply circuit in any way through the openings' 4 4. The slide performs the further function of protecting the interior of the box from dust and dirt. While it is preferable to have the slide nearly, or entirely, cove-r the openings, its most important function first above referred to, will be accomplished ii'it projects over the openings 4 1 sufficiently to prevent the introduction of fuses. The interior of the box will at all times be protected from dust or dirt either by the presence of plugs 5 5 which practically fill the open ings 4 4, or by the slide when the plugs are removed. K

apprehend that various changes and modications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. for example` the slide may be arranged either externally or internally of the cover. such a changeor mere reversal being too obvious to require separate illustration. 'it is also obvious that the interior of the box or cover may be provided with the usual insulatinglining, such practice being coinmonly employed in all types of electric receptacles.

`What I claim is:

1. A fuse box comprising a box portion for containing a .base block designed to removably receivev a fuse, a cover portionv hinged to the box portion and having an opening arrangedfin line with a fuse when in place, a slide carried by Said cover and arranged when in one position to project over said opening, and when in another position to uncover said opening, and means to lock said slide in either position by the act of closing said cover.

2. A fuse boxcomprising a box portion for containing a base block designed to removably receive a fuse, a cover portion hinged to the box portion and having an opening arranged in line with a fuse when in place, a slide carried by said cover and arranged when in one position to project 'over said opening, and when in another position to uncover said opening, and means to lock said slide in either position by the act of closing said cover, said means com prising a projection on the box arranged to engage the slide and block its movement when the cove;- is closed.

3. A fuse tbox comprising a box'portion for containing a base block designed toremovably receive a fuse, a cover portion hinged to the box portion and having an opening' arranged in line with a fuse when in place, a slide carried by said cover and arranged when in one position to project over said opening, and when in another position to uncover said opening, and means to lock said slide in either position by the act of closing said cover, said means comprising a projection on the box arranged to engage the slide and block its movement when Copies of this patent may be obtained for the cover is closed, with means to coperate with said projection to lock the cover closed.

4. In a device of the character described, a box portion arranged to receivefa fuse support within the same designed to removably hold a fuse plug, a cover hinged to said box and having an opening in line with said fuse Support, a slide mounted on said box cover and arranged to project over said opening when in one position and uncover said opening in another position, with means carried by the box to lock said slide against movement when the cover is closed, and to leave said slide free to be moved when said cover is opened.

5. In a device of the character described, a box portion arranged to receive a fuse support within the same designed to removably hold a fuse plug, a cover hinged to said box and having an opening in line with said fuse support, a slide mounted on said box cover and arranged to project over said opening when in one position and. uncover said opening in another position, with means carried by the box to lock said slide against movement when the cover is closed, and to leave said slide free to be moved when said cover isl opened, the opening in the box cover corresponding substantially in size and shape to the end of a fuse plug.

RosooE RATcLIFFii.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents. "'f .if Washington, D. C. 

